Chess originated in India around the 6th century CE as the game known as Chaturanga, which is widely regarded as the earliest predecessor of modern chess. From there, it spread through Persia (where it became Shatranj), to the Islamic world and Europe, evolving into the chess we play today. The consensus among historians is that the game’s roots lie in northern India, with Chaturanga reflecting a four-division army and later developments introducing new piece moves leading to modern chess. Key points
- Origins: Chaturanga, in the Gupta-era Indian subcontinent, roughly around the 6th century CE. This is typically cited as the earliest known form of chess [web results referencing historical summaries].
- Evolution: Through Persia into the Islamic world (where it adopted the name Shatranj) and later into Europe, where rules continued to evolve, including the modern changes to the queen and bishop movements.
- Board and pieces: Early versions used an 8×8 board, with pieces representing infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots, mirroring military formations; over time, the pieces’ moves were refined to become today’s chess pieces.
If you’d like, I can pull up a few reliable sources with dates and a concise timeline to back up these points.
